The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-18
P0LYTE.

man, his wife Theresa, gentle and
honest. TO complete the family an
urchn nine years OF age. Monsieur
PoIyte-a very devil, said his father,
and with that always the first in
school.
John Sigault was a skillful moulder.
Theresa was known as the most taste
iul milliner OF Montmartre.
All that little world lived without
any other care but the future OF Mon
sieur Polyte. Father and moth
err prepared to drain themselves
when that would become neces.
sary, as Polyte had already shown
some inclination towards the
learning OF an an art whose apprentice
ship costs great deal. John had n
friend named Robert, stone cutter
employed in the studio OF celebrated
sculptor. The child had teen admitted
in the contemplation OF the world-re.
nowned artist, of whom the two
workmen spoke as n demigod. At
first Monsieur Polyte was intimidated;
then he familiarized himself when he
saw the great man. Nothing was less
imposing than this short old fellow,
wearing blouse abominably macu-
lated, occupying himself in the make
ing OF small balls OF sticky clay with
his clammy fingers. This cry escaped
from the heart escaped from the lips
of the Partisan gamin:" Papa! when /
am big | will be sculptor, because
that at least is dirty"
The members OF the Institute de
France, who was kind OF wag, declar-
ed that this exclamation might pass
for an unequivocal manifestation OF
an artists vocation. The good par.
ents did not 90 further.
From this memorable day, when
Theresa had to work late in cutting,
repairing, and washing the clothes and
linen of "her men" she said to the boy,
"All right now, only when | cannot
work any more, Monsieur, the sculptor,
it is you who shall work for me-
Then from an carly period Polyte
was taught that the destinies of his
family would rest one day entirely on
his conduct and labor.
Besides, John Sigault had been a
soldier and his moral education of
his child bore marks of his military life.
Early he took care 10 develop the
sentiment OF responsibility in his son
by making him believe that, in so me
time to come, he would have to sup
port his parents.
So it was, when the moulder left
Theresa alone in the house, he said
TO Polyte, boy, ] am going cut and
place mamma under your protection;
you stand sentinel
And Polyte. honored with such
high confidence, would have allowed
any one to make mince meat OF him
rather than 60 out and play with the
other urchins of the neighborhood.
Those humble people. so quiet, so
loving, so united, were too happy.
That could not last long.
The 10th OF July, 1870, the declara.
tion OF war to Germany was published
in Paris. From that day John was
not the same man. That model of a
workman, having absolutely nothing
to do in the shop, expended his whole
time in the reading OF newspapers.
One evening he came home pale with
rage. The Germans were in sight of
Parisl
During the f,llowing night he had
the fever-a patriotic one. His de-
SPAR broke out into terrific invectives
against his egotism OF n happy hus-
band and timorous father; so much
that Theresa, although she hal moth
ing of heroine in her, ended by pla-
giarizing that famous phrase, And
now, go to fight
And he went.
In few days he had won again his
serceant's stripes. One morning he
paid visit to his wife and child. He
was mad with JOY. His colonel has
granted him a twelve hours furlouch
and given him the military medal
awarded to the sergeant by the Re
public for the bravery he had display
ed in the several encounters with
the Germans. He could not get n
twenty-four hours leave OF absence
because his regiment had to make
sortie on the following night. Friend
Robert, the stone cutter. called upon
John to present him with his con-
gratulations for the honor that he
had received from the Governmen..
He offered to watch over the SER
reant's house during his absence.
John, who knew the parsonage as I'M